A forum for ideas, politcal, social and others for the future of Sri Lanka

Monday, August 3, 2009

Draconian Censorship: NO MORE PORN!!!

So, the recently outed tactics to censor all manner of pornography seems to be causing a low intensity debate. Low intensity, because we Sri Lankan’s cannot be bothered about a lot of abstract things until they prevent you from either earning money, or doing what you like to do.

Porn has been around since man learned how to draw. To quote a British show, “Coupling”; “when man invented fire, he didn’t say ‘oooh look, we can cook food’. He Said ‘Ooooh look, we can now look at naked bottoms in the dark’”.

One thing I have learned over these many years with access to the internet (about 15 years) is that for the ardent surfer, porn is available if they know where to look. Now, lest I be judged on giving a discourse on Porn (pleasant though it may be), the bottom line is, it has always been there and will continue to be there for as long as horny people inhabit the earth.

The effort to censor this particular vice/media can be categorized into a few categories.

1.) Infringement on freedom of speech/expression.

A person (in a democracy) is/should be free to say what they want and share their thoughts without fear of persecution from the state. EVEN in the case where the subject matter is porn (in all its forms – including “classy” art). If it is defence news yesterday, porn today what will it be tomorrow? Resonance to the movie “1984” anyone?

2.) A good idea badly implemented

All children are precious. All children grow up. That is a fact of life. Having no children of my own, I still feel that when I do, I would rather he/she steps into the world fully informed of its wonder’s and perils. Sheltering children is one thing, but telling them the world outside of home and mom and dad is utopia is outright cruel. I have seen the results of such actions and they are not pretty.

However, I think strengthening parenting is key and a blanket ban on smut will only boost the black market trade in the material and cause children to be even more curious about this ‘blue films’.

3.) Pandering… to whom exactly?

Is the government trying to pander to someone? I cannot imagine who it would be. If there is one thing that links all communities, it’s sex. Gay, straight, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sinhala, Tamil, burgher we all have sex. Its what keeps the world going around for crying out loud. If they are trying to pander to the clergy (most of whom are (supposed to be) unaware of the pleasures of the flesh, reflect on this;

I was reading how the Police are trying to identify the characters in certain ‘movies’ or ‘clips’. A colleague of mine sent me a link which he thought was very funny. It directed me to a website which had a cellphone video clip and the caption was “Sri Lankan monk with a girl”. I thought it might be a mistake (as in it’s a bald Indian dude wearing an orange lungi) and played it. Oh the shame. It was a Sinhala monk alright and he knew what he wanted, if you know what I mean.

So, beware what you wish for ye clergy, for the skeletons in thou closets will be found.

On a final note, a rather amusing observation MUST be made. When I found out, it was startling to say the least. All South Asians in New York (the Northeast in fact) are quite aware of the fact that almost all the adult video stores (the kind with private booths), adult toy stores and a few porn production companies are owned and operated by Sri Lankan’s. Who knew?